circulate

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/ UK /ˈsɜː.kjʊˌleɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #20948

Meanings

1

verb
To move continuously around a system and back to the start

Blood circulates through the body, carrying oxygen to the cells.
2

verb
To spread widely, or to make information spread to many people

Rumours quickly circulated around the office after the announcement.
3

verb
To pass something around so that many people receive it

The manager circulated the report to all the staff.
4

verb
To move around and talk to different people, especially at a social event

The host circulated among the guests, greeting everyone.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to spread widely, or to... diffuse

3 verb · to pass something around so... distributepass aroundpass on

More disseminate spread

Word family

Forms circulatedcirculatescirculatingcirculator

Derived forms circulatablecirculationcirculativecirculatorcocirculateintercirculatemiscirculaterecirculate

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin circulātus, perfect passive participle of Late Latin circulō (“to make circular, encircle”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), a later collateral form of circulor (“form a circle (of men) around oneself”), from circulus (“a circle”). See also Middle English circulat(e) (“(alchemy) changed by continuous distillation in a closed vessel”).

circulō la-lat

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# circulate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɜː.kjʊˌleɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 20948

## Meanings
1. To move continuously around a system and back to the start
2. To spread widely, or to make information spread to many people
3. To pass something around so that many people receive it
4. To move around and talk to different people, especially at a social event

## Examples
- Blood circulates through the body, carrying oxygen to the cells.
- Rumours quickly circulated around the office after the announcement.
- The manager circulated the report to all the staff.
- The host circulated among the guests, greeting everyone.

## Synonyms
- disseminate
- spread

## Derived Forms
- circulatable
- circulation
- circulative
- circulator
- cocirculate
- intercirculate
- miscirculate
- recirculate

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: circulō

## Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin circulātus, perfect passive participle of Late Latin circulō (“to make circular, encircle”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), a later collateral form of circulor (“form a circle (of men) around oneself”), from circulus (“a circle”). See also Middle English circulat(e) (“(alchemy) changed by continuous distillation in a closed vessel”).

## AI Etymology
Circulate is borrowed from Late Latin circulātus, perfect passive participle of Late Latin circulō (“to make circular, encircle”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), a later collateral form of circulor (“form a circle (of men) around oneself”), from circulus (“a circle”). See also Middle English circulat(e) (“(alchemy) changed by continuous distillation in a closed vessel”). In present-day use, it can mean to move continuously around a system and back to the start, or to spread widely, or to make information spread to many people. Derived formations include circulatable, circulation, circulative, circulator, and cocirculate.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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